The most exciting 3DS and PS Vita games of 2016

2016 is only a few weeks old, and we’ve already got a slew of games to look forward to. We’re recapping our most anticipated titles for each platform, and today we have the rundown for the Nintendo 3DS and PS Vita.

There are a few 3DS titles already on the roster for this year, and we even managed to find a Vita title we’re excited to check out.

We’ll be updating this article with links to the other platforms as they’re published. There will be overlap, and that means you’ll see the same game a few times if you read each story. You’ll also see console exclusives here. Here’s what we have so far.

BOXBOY! 2 – Nintendo 3DS – TBA 2016

BOXBOY! 2 hasn’t been announced for anywhere beyond Japan yet. That doesn’t matter. The sequel to this HAL Laboratory hidden gem will almost certainly make it abroad. It released quietly in its home nation on January 6, 2016. Maybe we’ll see it in April here.

Look, BOXBOY! was an amazing puzzle platformer. Its hook is incredibly simple, but the mechanics slowly stack until its a towering beast of complexity. Plus, it’s cheap and well made. This 3DS title should be fantastic.

Bravely Second: End Layer – Nintendo 3DS – April 15, 2016

The surprise success of the first game in the Western world pushed Square Enix enough to fund the localization of the sequel. How is it that an original IP can sell over a million copies, and yet an established franchise Dragon Quest still struggles on the same audience? I’ll never understand.

This new adventure stars both old and new characters, and it promises to get the the meat of this new RPG universe that Square Enix has created. Gone are the days of Bravely Default being just a throwback to the Final Fantasy days of yore. This new story shines a unique light on the political scene of this setting, and it will do so with new towns and dungeons, new job classes, and twists and turns that fans won’t see coming.

Bravely Second wasn’t as big of a hit as its predecessor in Japan, so hopefully the English speaking world will step up and prove to Square Enix that this budding series should be allowed to bloom for many years to come.

We pushed, fought, and kicked for three years to get this game localized, and both Square Enix and Nintendo finally acquiesced. The dreams of Dragon Quest fans around the English speaking world are finally coming true with the English release of Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past, and there isn’t another game I want to play more.

As much of a fan as I am of Dragon Quest, I’ve never gotten around to the seventh entry, which is legendary for its slow pacing, grueling length, and antique graphics. This remake has been widely praised for improving each of the pieces, and the fact that I can take it and play it anywhere on my Nintendo 3DS only improves its odds of being one of my most played games of the year.

Fire Emblem Fates – Nintendo 3DS – February 19, 2016

It’s been three years since Nintendo resurrected the Fire Emblem series with the marvelous Fire Emblem: Awakening, and the fans are ready for more. Fire Emblem Fates doesn’t look like it will push the boundaries of what the series is all about, but as long as I have big, grueling battles and a lot of sword-swinging nobles with long capes, I’m good.

Hyper Light Drifter – PC, XBO, PS4, PS Vita, Wii U – TBA 2016

Hyper Light Drifter has been our most highly anticipated Kickstarter game since the website’s break-out year. Every year, we list it here, and every year we’re disappointed by the delays. I guess that’s just the nature of the Kickstarter beast, but 2016 could very well put an end to our suffering and waiting.

Severed – PS Vita – Spring 2016

The last of a dying breed, Severed is a quality PS Vita game in the year 2016. Guacamelee developer DrinkBox Studio is taking the colorful style it has become known for into the dungeon-crawling RPG genre.

In Severed, you take control of a female warrior who dismembers her enemies. Not only does she rip these beasts limb from limb, she also takes these mutilated body parts and uses them as armor. How grotesque!

Severed looks like a really fun game, but I am also interested in seeing how it holds up to the plethora of deep and intricate Japanese dungeon-crawlers that have taken over as the console’s main niche. Those games are a bit too deep for me, so maybe Severed will become the acceptable and accessible option we all need.